Six arrested on conspiracy to supply drugs
Northumbria Police has arrested six men with conspiracy to supply cocaine and cannabis across Tyneside. The men were arrested following a covert police operation last week. During the arrests a sophisticated cannabis farm was discovered, which police believe was capable of producing vast amounts of the class B drugs. A large amount of suspected cocaine was also recovered weighing in excess of 1kg. The six men, aged between 20 and 36 years old, are from the Gateshead and Newcastle areas they have all been released on bail pending further enquires. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Knox of the force's Priority and Organised Crime Team is pleased with the activity uncovered today and warns there is more to come. DCI Knox said: "Let there be no mistake this is about organised crime. We have uncovered a significant amount of suspected cannabis plants and the money to set this sort of sophisticated farm up comes from organised criminals who make money from other peoples misery. "Some of the people who purchase these drugs are the ones who are responsible for the core crime in our communities to fund their addictions. They commit burglaries, shoplifting, vehicle crime and I hope that my team have today prevented a lot of drugs getting onto our streets. Northumbria Police is committed to the relentless pursuit of those involved in organised crime. "We have also seized a number of suspected firearms and unlicensed fireworks which again, in the wrong hands could be detrimental and ruin the lives of people in our communities. The message is simple - there is no place for it here."